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DIY: GT Spec Rear Strut Cross Brace
If you find this thread helpful, give me some rep. :tiphat:
How to install a GT Spec Rear Strut Cross Brace Tools required:
Recommended:
Install time (with all of the right tools and a lift): 2.5 hrs Difficulty scale 1-10: 2 (because of the plastic panel mod required) Camera: Cannon T3i with Speedlight Because the brace can't be bolted in from the top, the kit gives you cups to mount to the top of the rear strut area. These will poke through the top rear section and allow you to bolt on the rear braces. **What is getting installed** http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/d09efa1c.jpg http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/f6f17cc3.jpg http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/fc9620bd.jpg http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/f3f6700f.jpg http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/0dcebc74.jpg **Removing the factory interior panels** 1. There are 4 clips that must be removed before you can unsnap the plastic panels. There is 1 on each side of the strut panels, and 2 on the rear. Use a flat tip screw driver and carefully pop them open. Once they pop, just pull them out. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/6ffa2fbe.jpg http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/5aea5fa1.jpg http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/727984ef.jpg 2. Pull out the trunk liner, carpet and base. Pull up on the rear panel first, make sure the cargo light is not clipped in. There are no screws or bolts holding the panels in, so a good yank and they should pop free. Remove all of them to expose the rear strut area. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/e4ca72c8.jpg http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/c6680589.jpg **Installing the strut mounting cups** 1. Start by removing your wheels. Obviously a jack and jack stands are going to be needed. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/6ea9254c.jpg 2. Once the wheel is removed, locate the top strut mount. These are 2, 12mm nuts. Remove them. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/6697d156.jpg 3. Locate the bottom strut mount. This is a 17mm bolt, with a 17mm nut. Remove these and pull the strut out. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/42a91cbc.jpg http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/7c190fce.jpg 4. Take the GT Spec cup and place it on the top of the strut mount. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/b15d5db2.jpg 5. Bolt the strut back in, installation is the reverse of removal. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/36c685af.jpg 6. Once the cup is strut is bolted back on, you should see this. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/86db5a1f.jpg 7. Do both sides, exactly the same. Make sure to tighten all suspension and wheel bolts to spec. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/cb74fd12.jpg 8. Now install the braces! http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/759eb0ea.jpg http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/554427c4.jpg http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/2d839f46.jpg 9. If you want to be a no interior thug, then you are done... just make sure you tighten all of the bolts. However, I'm not very hard, so I have to install my interior, which means.. I gotta cut it. Go ahead and remove the braces and put the stock sides back in. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/9e2712c0.jpg 10. This is the hardest part of the install.. mainly because I'm not very good at cutting things that are important. So, I used as much tape as possible. I began by putting the panel on and tapping the plastic with a mallet, it will show where the mount hit. I then tapped it with a punch to mark where I would drill. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/9cc1ab26.jpg 11. Time to cut, so I covered in blue painters tape. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/28bd2e61.jpg 12. Since everyone likes to do things their own way... feel free to cut how you see fit. I tried to cut AS LITTLE as possible, so it took a while, but this is necessary, otherwise you won't be able to put the bolts in. I took a hole saw and went to town. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/2c079a5e.jpg 13. I measured it out and traced where I wanted to cut. YOU CAN ALWAYS CUT MORE, BUT YOU CAN'T PUT IT BACK! Go as fast or as slow as you wish. I went slow and took my time. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/60edba0b.jpg http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/4023b662.jpg 14. Once you can put the bar on, do the same thing for the seat belt brace. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/8f46c8d9.jpg 15. When you are happy with the way it looks, take a piece of paper and trace out the inside hole. You will use this as a negative for the other side. Measure it out, tape it on and trace with a marker. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/eb3b42d6.jpg 16. Match it, cut it out and install it. You will have to get creative as to how to tighten all of the bolts, but it's possible. You can also remove the braces without taking the panels out. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/0a4967ca.jpg Thanks for looking! I'll have more pics once the weather clears up! -David |
Overall the rear of the car does feel stiffer... The fitment and quality of this kit was spot on. All of the custom hardware looks great, the finish is outstanding. I couldn't be happier!
GT Spec FTW!! |
Subd
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sooo i will not be able to adjust rear damper unless i take off my suspension?
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you should still be able to adjust if your coilovers etc have the long allen wrench
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Did you weigh it? I can't find the weight anywhere. Looks good though :tup:
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At this time, you wont be able to adjust the coilovers with this brace, however the guys at GT Spec say they are working on a solution.
As mentioned above, if you have coilovers that have extended Allen wrenches, it won't be a problem. Total weight is about 8lbs. I should have the finished install tomorrow! Thanks for looking! |
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Looks great .... in for progress.
Just curious if the removed interior pieces are going to go back in somehow when done ? Or is the plan to leave them all out. |
Sounds like he intends to cut holes in the plastic to put them back (which I think a lot of people do for adjustable suspension anyways).
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Any product link for this kit? gtspec.com doesn't seem to have it. Curious about where the two smaller bars are going...
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sub'd, brace looks mean!
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